When they arrived, I first noticed that the packaging gives all the appearances of being a natural, healthy snack.

But it's only packaging.

In reading the nutrition facts, I was mortified to learn that one serving (1 oz. / approximately 7 clusters), has 160 calories! Add that to the 14 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of fat, and only 4 grams of Protein.

On the plus side, there is 0mg of Cholesterol.

Yet as we all know, any food with such high "bad stuff" content is going to taste good.

Must be 18 or older to enter. Open to U.S. Residents only. Contest begins September 30, 2009, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. on October 15, 2009. Winner will be notified within 24 hours and must supplied a valid USPS shipping address. Failure to provide a valid email and/or shipping address will result in forfeiture of prize.

Monday, September 28, 2009

To promote the release of her mystery suspense novel The Perfect Murder in paperback on September 29, 2009, author Brenda Novak is hosting a Twitter Contest between September 28 and October 3, 2009.

Each Day, Novak will tweet a question and followers re-tweet (RT) their answers to be entered to win.

Parents - especially Moms - will truly appreciate Novak's story of how she came into being a writer; which is, when she learned that her daycare provider was giving the children cough syrup to make them sleep while she watched soap operas, Novak quit her job as a loan officer and opted to join the ranks of the stay-at-home Moms. Out of a need to contribute to her home financially while fulfilling her new role, a writer was born.

In addition, Novak's youngest son is a diabetic. Each year, Novak works tirelessly in diabetic fundraisers working toward a cure.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

"American Girl released an addition to its collection of sociologically accurate dolls this year -- and she's homeless." - ParentDish

Yep, that's right. The doll you see above is American Girl's recent release: Gwen, who is homeless.

According to the New York Post, Gwen's story is told through another doll's biography, specifically: Her father ran out on the family and her mother lost her job. By winter, the fatherless family is living in their car.

Amazing.

Despite living in their car, Gwen looks like she just walked off the pages of an American Girl magazine. With her shiny well-groomed hair and tidy white dress, I can only conjure up an image of an Escalade as the "car" this family is living in. And it must be parked outside of a Beverly Hills' mission.

Appearances aside, am I the only one who is appalled by the apparent blame being laid at the father's feet? It's so obvious he's to blame with the phrase fatherless family.

Not the economy that resulted in mom's job loss.

Or parents who bit off more than they could chew on a mortgage in this recent credit boom and got caught up in the foreclosure crisis?

No, the phrase fatherless family implies that it's all Daddy's fault.

Apparently when creating this meant-to-induce sympathy doll, AG set aside their feminist ideas of being strong women in trade for slam dunking men.

Or maybe this doll was to show all the other little homeless girls - or those who can cough up $95 - that it's okay to be homeless.

As long as you keep looking so pretty, right?

Although, AG is selling it as an effort to teach the more affluent children about homelessness.

Are you kidding me? You're trying to teach them about homelessness in this tidy, well-dressed, obviously well-fed and groomed package.

Yeah, okay. And their customers seem to be getting the message.

Out of 24 pages of reviews, I could not find ONE that mentioned learning anything about homelessness through Gwen.

And many of the reviews included statements about how they purchased more than one AG doll at the same time.

Yep, that's getting the message across.

A message that says, "We'll drop $200 for American Girl dolls while a little homeless girl sleeps in her car tonight."

But she'll look mighty fine in the morning time. And that's all that counts!

Friday, September 25, 2009

For many years, Americans have watched as the wives of politicians have followed Tammy Wynette's advice to "Stand By Your Man."

If you listen closely, you'll hear a lot of judgment passed on these women: "I would drop him so fast it would make his head spin, " "There's no way I would stay with a man who cheated on me," "Is she that stupid?"

I always get a little irritated as such judgments being passed because I know very well that they are being said by those who have never walked a mile in cheated spouses shoes.

I have.

Many of you may not realize that Briian is actually my second husband. My first husband, whom I was married to for 8 years, was a cheater.

When I learned of his indiscretions, I had numerous people tell me to get rid of him then, to kick him to the curb, to divorce him and take everything he had.

I stayed married to him for another 6 years after his first affair (actually a double since he was seeing two at one time. As a matter of fact, it was girlfriend no. 1 that ratted out girlfriend no. 2 to me. Can you say "crazy"?).

So why would I stay with someone like that?

First, we had a child together. And suddenly I saw this little boy's world about to crumble, and I couldn't bear the pain that it would cause him.

Secondly, I was afraid. It's as plain as that. Once you have established a life with someone, it's scary to think about starting over alone.

Third, my pride and anger refused to allow another woman (or women, in my case) to win. No way, no how was she going to take my man. And I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she didn't take him.

Yeah, that's one of those deals where you cut off your nose to spite your face.

And that is a driving force behind these "good wives." If I felt humiliated over the ordeal, as a nobody, can you imagine how magnified their humiliation was when your husband's affair is displayed on the cover of every newspaper and magazine and broadcast on news programs around the world?

I can. And I understand their motivation.

I also understand that, for the years they remain with their cheating husband, they will never trust him again. And, short of being Mother Teresa, they will not love him as they once did.

For all intents and purposes, when his affair was exposed publicly, the marriage was over. Maybe not so much by way of divorce decree but through the end of love, trust, and security.

It was, however, America's fascination with how these women can stay with these men that CBS brought forth a new drama, The Good Wife starring Chris Noth and Julianna Margulies; airing Tuesday nights at 9/8c.

It's an awesome show. One that I'm already addicted to as I love Margulies character and the strength she exhibits - not to mention some of the take-that lines she has!

In my personal opinion, this is one of the new dramas that will be around for many seasons!

I have absolutely loved him in television and movies; but I had NO idea he's such a talented singer too!

When given the opportunity to try Connick Jr.'s new album Your Songs, I'll admit I was a bit hesitant. But the oh-so-hot cover convinced me to give it a shot.

Your Songsreally takes youback to the big band era with Connick Jr. performing classic songs by some of the greatest musicians of all times; including:

All The Way (Frank Sinatra)

Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)

Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)

And I Love Her (The Beatles)

(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)

Besame Mucho

The Way You Look Tonight

First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)

Your Song (Elton John)

Some Enchanted Evening

And I Love You So (Don McLean)

Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)

Smile (Charlie Chaplin)

Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)

It was definitely a trip down a memory lane created even before my time, but a beautiful era nonetheless.

While I really enjoyed the album, if forced to be truthful I have to admit that I still prefer seeing Harry on the screen versus just hearing him on an album.

Although he has a beautiful voice to match those blessed looks, I'm just not sure it would be as enticing if the music wasn't from musicians who have already instilled a love of their songs; enticing you to listen to and love them irregardless of who is performing.

The photo at right is from the intended Kings Island (Cinncinati, Ohio) Halloween Haunt display for 2009.

This skeleton represents Farah Fawcett, who was but one of many "guests" to the now defunct (after much public outcry) display which also included the "likeness" of Billy Mays, Dave Thomas, Michael Jackson, and Steve McNair and his mistress/murderer Saleh Kazemi. (Photo below)

Monday, September 21, 2009

If you missed CBS' Fall Monday night comedy line-up, then you missed two hours of some serious knee-slapping laughs.

How I Met Your Mother (8/7c) started out its season premier with Robin and Barney playing around - physically and with the idea of forming a relationship; all the while Lily and Marshall was doing all they could to make "the talk" happen. Ted, in his usual manner, screws up his first day as a college professor.

Accidentally On Purpose(8:30/7:30c) is one of CBS' new comedies that's expected to be a big hit (which easily explains why it make its debut on CBS' biggest night for comedy). This very contemporary comedy stars Jenna Elfman as a single woman who gets pregnant after a one-night-stand. After a bit of mental juggling, she moves the baby daddy in with her. How can this plot not create a lot of laughs. (See previous review)

Two and a Half Men (9/8c) began it's seventh season with the gut-busting laughs that can only come from Charlie Sheen. I swear that man has to go in to the writers each day and say, "Ok, this is what I did last night..." and then they write it. Which is what makes viewers laugh so hard they about wet their pants! Question on my mind: Is Charlie Harper really ready to settle down with one woman? If so, does this signal the end of my favorite television sitcom? I hope not!

Big Bang Theory(9:30/8:30c) brings the motley crew home, and the craziness that could surround only this little band of nerds. Nerds you can't help but to love! Penny seems very exicted to see Leonard return, but her affections lean toward Sheldon when he learns that his experiments in the North Pole were sabatoged with false reports from his cohorts. Is the writers of BBT preparing us for a possible romantic interlude between Sheldon and Penny? Sure looks that way!

If you ask me, CBS is making the other networks look like they should be heading for cable service only.

To compete with the ratings that CBS is sure to produce this season, NBC and ABC better dream up something better than what they've presented so far.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Let me warn you: if you don't think a Mom blogger has any business spouting off her political views, then you need to leave now and return your head to the sand because I'm fixing to unload right here, right now.

I am so sick and tired of the race card being played every time I turn around.

You'd think by now that race card would be rather tattered having been pulled from the deck so much.

I used to have a lot of respect for Bill Cosby.

Not so anymore.

Sure, I wasn't so blind as to see how his very popular sitcom made white people out to be idiots. And it irritated the fool out of me.

But then he gained tons of respect from me when he laid out the facts for people of his own race on why they were holding themselves back, not the white man.

While his own race was talking smack about him, the white man applauded his efforts and gained a new found respect for someone who could see it for what was.

Then he has to go and back up former President Jimmy Carter's statements that the protestations of late over Obama's spending and healthcare idealization is centered on racism.

What the-??!!

Can people actually be this stupid??!!

Apparently so.

It doesn't matter that a vast majority of the American people hated Jimmy Carter for what he did to this country, because a black man (only half-black, mind you) is doing it and we still hate it, then - as a white - it must be because we are racist.

What exactly were we white folk when people were protesting Jimmy Carter and his stupid, country-crippling policies?

Does any of these race-card playing liberal socialist ever stop to think that the reason most Americans dislike Obama is because he's so flippin' arrogant to come on fast and strong in the spending department? That he is insistent on shoving his policies down our throat?

That's exactly why I despise Obama, and the exact same reasons that I hated Carter's sissy-style politics.

Yet now I should feel bad because I am white and therefore my disgust is mostly based on my hatred of the black race?

Get over yourself!

I will not be made to feel bad because I was born a white girl. I am proud to be Caucasian. That is my heritage, that is who I am.

Stop thinking that because a white person disagrees with a black President it's centered in racism.

Remember, plenty of us "racist" white folk didn't like George Bush (Daddy and Baby), Bill Clinton, or Jimmy Carter.

I was offered an opportunity to be one of the first to view CBS' premier episode of Medium, wherein Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette) suffers a brain tumor that could lead to loss of her supernatural gift while trying to protect her family from the Mexican drug cartel.

Faithfully watchers will recognize this episode as the series finale episode from NBC.

However, being that CBS has signed on Mediumfor their fall line-up, it's safe to assume that Allison Dubois will continue her dreaming of past and future events.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

July 2006

Earlier in the day of this photo, we had purchased and set up a small snap pool set for Big Brother to play in.

After just a short stint of playing in the water - where it was too cold and he only wanted to play naked, which doesn't go hand-in-hand - he decided it was time to streak down our driveway for the whole neighborhood to see.

I did, fortunately, catch him long enough to put a towel around him. And it was cute the way it turned out - he looks like a mini (streaker) man!

With four kids, I have purchased many, many pairs of Stride Rite shoes over the 17 years I have been a mother.

When the offer came to try and review a pair of Stride Rite SRTs for my baby girl, I jumped on it!

Who can turn down a chance to promote a product they already know and love!?

Stride Rite SRT (Sensory Response Technology) is a new line from this quality, affordable brand.

This revolutionary children's footwear technology, developed in conjunction with the Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, improves the way a child learns to walk via a sensory feedback system, an ultra-flexible design that allows for more freedom of movement, and a unique construction that reduces the number of stumbles and falls.

While we anxiously await the first independent steps of our little princess - in her new Stride Rite SRTs, of course! - I often reflect back to my three boys' first steps; especially my youngest son's.

Born nine weeks premature at only 3 pounds 9.7 ounces, we were well aware that many of those first year milestones could be delayed; possibly needing extensive therapy to even reach them.

As the first birthday rolled around and he was still crawling, I forced myself to remember that his adjusted age was only 10 months.

And as we neared 18 months, my heart began to break thinking that physical therapy would be required for walking; despite having overcome developmental delays in all other areas.

Sure enough, our next pediatric visit we were told that he was referring us to a physical therapists.

This pediatric physical therapy group actually came to the baby's home for each session.

On the Sunday before they were scheduled to arrive for the first session on Tuesday, our 18 month and 1 week old son toddled out on his own.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this: within hours, he was toddling around like he had been walking for months!

While I was thrilled each and every time my two oldest boys took their first steps, this was an occasion for me to literally cry tears of joy!

You couldn't have found a happier, prouder (and more relieved) mother than I!

The physical therapist never had to come; and I'm pretty sure my little guy was just testing his Mommy's stress limits by waiting until the 11th hour.

And the funny part: he was wearing a pair of Stride Rite first walking shoes! (I searched everywhere for a photo, but in the course of trying to scrapbook I've misplaced them!)

If you've never tried Stride Rite shoes, this mom of four highly recommends them.

GIVEAWAY! Stride Rite and Momfluence is teaming up to offer 5 lucky winners to receive one pair of SRT shoes, available in sizes 3 to 8 infant/toddler (including medium and wide). Each pair is a retail value of $50.

The Fine Print:This contest is open to legal U.S. residents 18 years or older. Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. ET September 14th and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET September 28th. Five winners will be chosen to receive a pair of SRT shoes – toddler size only.